Two-port non-reciprocal circuit device, composite electronic component, and communication apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a two-port non-reciprocal circuit device, connecting portions of a first central electrode are electrically connected to first and second balanced input terminals, respectively. Likewise, connecting portions of a second central electrode are electrically connected to first and second balanced output terminals, respectively. First and second resistors are electrically connected between the first balanced input terminal and the first balanced output terminal and between the second balanced input terminal and the second balanced output terminal, respectively. First to fourth matching capacitors are electrically connected between the connecting portions of the first and second central electrodes and ground, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a two-port non-reciprocal circuitdevice, such as an isolator used in a microwave band, a compositeelectronic component, and a communication apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Two-port non-reciprocal circuit devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,016,510 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2002-299916 (Patent Document 2) are known. In thetwo-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to Patent Document 1, afirst central electrode and a second central electrode are arranged onthe upper surface of a ferrite member such that the electrodes crosseach other and are electrically insulated from each other. One end ofeach of the first and second central electrodes is grounded, and theother ends thereof are electrically connected to an input terminal andan output terminal, respectively. Also, a resistor is electricallyconnected between the other end of the first central electrode and theother end of the second central electrode. Further, matching capacitorsare electrically connected between the other ends of the first andsecond central electrodes and ground. Each of the input and outputterminals is an unbalanced terminal.

In the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device shown in FIG. 11 of PatentDocument 2, one end of a first central electrode in the input side isgrounded and the other end thereof is electrically connected to anunbalanced input terminal. A matching capacitor is electricallyconnected between the other end of the first central electrode andground. Both ends of a second central electrode in the output side areelectrically connected to a balanced output terminal through matchingcapacitors. Also, a resistor is electrically connected between the otherend of the first central electrode and the other end of the secondcentral electrode. Further, a matching capacitor is electricallyconnected between both ends of the second central electrode.

In the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device of the Patent Document 1,however, both input and output terminals are unbalanced terminals, andthus cannot be connected to a balanced circuit. In order to connect thetwo-port non-reciprocal circuit device to the balanced circuit, abalanced-to-unbalanced transformer (balun) has to be provided to theinput/output sides of the non-reciprocal circuit device. In this way,when the balun and the non-reciprocal circuit device are used together,the size and cost of the device increase, the structure is complicated,and reliability decreases.

Also, in the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device of Patent Document2, only one of the two balanced output terminals is electricallyconnected to an unbalanced input terminal via a resistor. Therefore, itcauses imbalance between the two balanced output terminals. Accordingly,the common mode rejection ratio of the non-reciprocal circuit devicedecreases, and thus the amount of signals which are input to the twobalanced terminals in a common mode and which are output increases. As aresult, undesired waves other than necessary signal waves pass throughthe non-reciprocal circuit device disadvantageously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred embodimentsof the present invention provide a two-port non-reciprocal circuitdevice which can be connected to a balanced circuit without using abalun and which has a large common mode rejection ratio, and alsoprovide a composite electronic component and a communication apparatusincluding the novel two-port non-reciprocal circuit device.

A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention includes:

-   -   (a) a permanent magnet;    -   (b) a ferrite member to which a DC magnetic field is applied by        the permanent magnet;    -   (c) a first central electrode provided on the ferrite member;    -   (d) a second central electrode provided on the ferrite member,        the first and second central electrodes crossing each other and        being electrically insulated from each other;    -   (e) a first resistor which is electrically connected between one        end of the first central electrode and one end of the second        central electrode;    -   (f) a second resistor which is electrically connected between        the other end of the first central electrode and the other end        of the second central electrode;    -   (g) a first terminal which is electrically connected to the one        end of the first central electrode and a second terminal which        is electrically connected to the other end of the first central        electrode; and    -   (h) a third terminal which is electrically connected to the one        end of the second central electrode and a fourth terminal which        is electrically connected to the other end of the second central        electrode; wherein    -   the first and second terminals are balanced input terminals and        the third and fourth terminals are balanced output terminals.

Preferably, the resistances of the first and second resistors are almostequal to each other. Further, the ferrite member preferably has asubstantially parallelogram-shaped configuration when viewed in a planview.

The two-port non-reciprocal circuit device having the above-describedconfiguration can be connected to a balanced circuit without using abalun.

In order to match the impedance of the two-port non-reciprocal circuitdevice to that of the balanced circuit connected to the two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device, matching capacitors are electricallyconnected between both ends of the central electrodes, matchingcapacitors are electrically connected between each end of the centralelectrodes and ground, or matching capacitors are electrically connectedbetween each end of the central electrodes and the first to fourthterminals.

Also, a composite electronic component according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention includes the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device having the above-described characteristics and a poweramplifier which is electrically connected to the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device, wherein a balanced output terminal of the poweramplifier is electrically connected to the balanced input terminal ofthe two-port non-reciprocal circuit device. In this composite electroniccomponent, a load impedance from the side of the output terminal of thepower amplifier is constant regardless of the operating state of asubsequent-stage circuit or the operating environment. Therefore, thepower load efficiency and output distortion characteristic of the poweramplifier can be constantly maintained at the optimal state.

Further, a communication apparatus according to another preferredembodiment of the present invention includes the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device and the composite electronic component having theabove-described characteristics. Accordingly, a compact communicationapparatus having an excellent stable load regulation can be obtained.

Other features, elements, characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device according to a first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the inside of the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the internal connection state of thetwo-port non-reciprocal circuit device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of the two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the configuration of a two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to a second preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of a two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to a third preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of a two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to a fourth preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an electric circuit diagram showing a composite electroniccomponent according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an electric circuit block diagram showing an example of acircuit including the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is an electric circuit block diagram showing a communicationapparatus according to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a two-port non-reciprocal circuit device, a compositeelectronic component, and a communication apparatus according to variouspreferred embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the attached drawings.

First Preferred Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 1, a two-port isolator 1 according to a first preferredembodiment of the present invention preferably includes a metallic lowercase 4, a resin terminal case 3, a central electrode assembly 13, ametallic upper case 8, a permanent magnet 9, an insulating member 7,resistors R1 and R2, and matching capacitors C1 to C4.

The metallic lower case 4 and the metallic upper case 8 are preferablymade of a ferromagnetic material, such as soft iron, so as to form amagnetic circuit. The surface thereof is preferably Ag-plated orCu-plated so as to improve an insertion loss characteristic. Theinsulating member 7 preferably includes a dielectric material, such asLCP (liquid crystal polymer), PPS, PBT, PEEK, or epoxy resin, or othersuitable material.

In the central electrode assembly 13, a first central electrode 21 and asecond central electrode 22 are arranged on the upper surface of adisc-shaped microwave ferrite member 20, such that the electrodes crosseach other at substantially right angles and are electrically insulatedfrom each other. The ferrite member 20 normally includes a YIG ferrite.The first central electrode 21 has connecting portions 26 and 27 at bothends thereof, and the second central electrode 22 has connectingportions 28 and 29 at both ends thereof. A ground electrode 25 isprovided on the lower surface of the ferrite member 20. The groundelectrode 25 of the central electrode assembly 13, which is provided onthe lower surface of the ferrite member 20, is connected to a bottomwall 4 b of the metallic lower case 4 through a window 3 c of the resinterminal case 3 by soldering or other suitable connection, so as to begrounded.

Preferably, each of the central electrodes 21 and 22 has some values ofinductance corresponding to each operating frequency, because theinductance of the central electrodes 21 and 22 is one of the importantfactors which determine the operating bandwidth and the input impedancein the center frequency of the isolator 1. On the other hand, the widthof each of the central electrodes 21 and 22 is preferably about 20% toabout 45% of the diameter of the ferrite member 20. If the width of eachof the central electrodes 21 and 22 is less than about 20% of thediameter of the ferrite member 20, a component which is vertical to theprincipal surface of the ferrite member 20 in a high-frequency magneticflux of the ferrite member 20, in other words, a component which isparallel with a DC biased magnetic field, is increased. A high-frequencymagnetic field component in the ferrite member 20, which is parallelwith the DC biased magnetic field, does not contribute to non-reciprocalmagnetic coupling between the central electrodes 21 and 22. Therefore, acoupling coefficient between the central electrodes 21 and 22 decreases,insertion loss and reflection loss of the isolator 1 increase, and thusthe operating frequency bandwidth is deteriorated.

On the other hand, if the width of each of the central electrodes 21 and22 is greater than approximately 45% of the diameter of the ferritemember 20, the adjacent connecting portions 26 and 28, and 27 and 29, ofthe central electrodes 21 and 22 interfere with each other and areshorted out, which causes characteristic failure. Further, the area of aconductor provided on the side surface of the ferrite member 20increases, the free coming and going of high-frequency magnetic flux isinterfered with, and insertion loss disadvantageously increases.

In the first preferred embodiment, in order to obtain a desiredinductance and to set the width of each of the central electrodes 21 and22 to about 20% to about 45% of the diameter of the ferrite member 20,each of the central electrodes 21 and 22 preferably includes two lines,and the length of each electrode in the width direction of the two linesis preferably about 20% to about 45% of the diameter of the ferritemember 20. The number of lines is preferably 2 to 4.

Each of the central electrodes 21 and 22 preferably includes a copperplate (copper foil) having a thickness of, for example, about 0.01 mm toabout 0.1 mm. Such a copper plate is cheap, easy to be processed, andhas a low resistivity, and thus a low insertion loss can be realized.Alternatively, a copper alloy, such as brass, phosphor bronze, orberyllium copper, may be coated with a good conductor, such as silver orcopper, by plating or evaporation. In this case, by forming an undercoat between the coat and the base material, the adhesive force of thecoat is stabilized, and rust can be prevented. Specifically, a baseplating of copper or nickel of, for example, about 0.1 μm to about 5 μmis plated with silver of, for example, about 0.5 μm to about 10 μm.

The central electrodes 21 and 22 are fixed to the ferrite member 20preferably by using an adhesive or sticky insulating film. As a materialfor the film, polyimide, aramid, polyester, nylon, Teflon®, orGore-Tex®, or other suitable material, may be used. The thickness of thefilm is usually, for example, about 0.010 mm to about 0.15 mm. Asilicon, acrylic, epoxy, or synthetic rubber material, or other suitablematerial, is preferably used for the adhesive. Also, as a bondingmethod, a pressure sensitive method (adhered by pressing),thermosetting, UV setting, or setting by contact with moisture in theair, or other suitable method, can be used.

As shown in FIG. 2, balanced input terminals 14 and 15, balanced outputterminals 16 and 17, and two ground terminals 18 are insertion-moldedinto the resin terminal case 3. One end of each of the terminals 14 to18 is led outward through side walls 3 a, which face each other, of theresin terminal case 3. The other ends thereof are exposed in a bottomportion 3 b of the resin terminal case 3, and define balanced input leadelectrode portions 14 a and 15 a, balanced output lead electrodeportions 16 a and 17 a, and ground lead electrode portions 18 a,respectively. The balanced input lead electrode portions 14 a and 15 aand the balanced output lead electrode portions 16 a and 17 a aresoldered to the connecting portions 26, 27, 28, and 29 of the centralelectrodes 21 and 22, respectively. The resin terminal case 3 ispreferably made of a heat-resistant resin, such as LCP, PPS, PBT, PEEK,or epoxy resin, or other suitable material.

Each of the matching capacitors C1 to C4 is preferably a single-platecapacitor, in which a hot-side capacitor electrode and a cold-sidecapacitor electrode are provided on the front and back surfaces of adielectric substrate, respectively. The hot-side capacitor electrodes ofthe matching capacitors C1 to C4 are soldered to the connecting portions26 to 29 of the central electrodes 21 and 22, respectively, and thecold-side capacitor electrodes are soldered to the ground lead electrodeportions 18 a, which are exposed in the resin terminal case 3.

One of terminal electrodes of the resistor R1 is connected to theconnecting portion 26 of the central electrode 21, and the otherterminal electrode is connected to the connecting portion 28 of thecentral electrode 22. Likewise, one of terminal electrodes of theresistor R2 is connected to the connecting portion 27 of the centralelectrode 21, and the other terminal electrode is connected to theconnecting portion 29 of the central electrode 22. FIG. 3 showselectrical connection inside the isolator 1. The permanent magnet 9,which is preferably substantially rectangular-shaped in a plan view,usually includes a ferrite magnet preferably made of strontium, barium,or lanthanum, or other suitable material.

The above-described components are assembled in the following manner.First, as shown in FIG. 1, the metallic lower case 4 is attached to thebottom of the resin terminal case 3. Then, the central electrodeassembly 13, the matching capacitors C1 to C4, and the resistors R1 andR2 are accommodated in the resin terminal case 3, and the metallic uppercase 8 is attached thereto. The permanent magnet 9 and the insulatingmember 7 are placed between the metallic upper case 8 and the centralelectrode assembly 13. The permanent magnet 9 applies a DC magneticfield H to the central electrode assembly 13. The lower case 4 and theupper case 8 are bonded by soldering, welding, adhesion, mechanical fit,or any combination of these methods or other suitable methods, so that ametallic case is obtained. The metallic case defines a magnetic circuit,and also functions as a yoke.

FIG. 4 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of the isolator 1. Theconnecting portions 26 and 27 of the first central electrode 21 areelectrically connected to the balanced input terminals 14 and 15,respectively. Likewise, the connecting portions 28 and 29 of the secondcentral electrode 22 are electrically connected to the balanced outputterminals 16 and 17, respectively. The resistors R1 and R2 areelectrically connected between the balanced input terminal 14 and thebalanced output terminal 16 and between the balanced input terminal 15and the balanced output terminal 17, respectively. The matchingcapacitors C1 to C4 are electrically connected between the connectingportions 26 to 29 of the first and second central electrodes 21 and 22and ground, respectively.

When a balanced signal (differential signal) is input between thebalanced input terminals 14 and 15, a current flows through the firstcentral electrode 21, so that a high-frequency magnetic field isgenerated in the ferrite member 20. Due to the high-frequency magneticfield, a current flows through the second central electrode 22, which ismagnetically coupled with the first central electrode 21. At this time,the crossing angle and the shape of the central electrodes 21 and 22, aDC biased magnetic field of the permanent magnet 9, and the capacitancesof the matching capacitors C1 to C4 are adjusted so that the currentflowing through the first central electrode 21 is in phase with thecurrent flowing through the second central electrode 22, in other words,so that a potential difference is not generated between the connectingportions 26 and 28 and between the connecting portions 27 and 29. Bothends of the resistors R1 and R2 are at the same potential, and thus acurrent does not flow through the resistors R1 and R2. Accordingly, thebalanced signal is transmitted from the balanced input terminals 14 and15 to the balanced output terminals 16 and 17. Since a current does notflow through the resistors R1 and R2, the amount of power loss is verysmall.

On the other hand, when a balanced signal (differential signal) is inputbetween the balanced output terminals 16 and 17, a current flows throughthe second central electrode 22, and a high-frequency magnetic field isgenerated in the ferrite member 20. Due to the high-frequency magneticfield, a current flows through the first central electrode 21, which ismagnetically coupled with the second central electrode 22. At this time,the crossing angle and the shape of the central electrodes 21 and 22, aDC biased magnetic field of the permanent magnet 9, and the capacitancesof the matching capacitors C1 to C4 are adjusted so that most ofelectric power of the input balanced signal is consumed by the resistorsR1 and R 2 when a voltage generated at the connecting portions 26 and 27of the first central electrode 21 is zero. Accordingly, most of theelectric power of the balanced signal is consumed by the resistors R1and R2, so that the balanced signal is hardly transmitted from thebalanced output terminals 16 and 17 to the balanced input terminals 14and 15.

At this time, by setting the resistances of the two resistors R1 and R2to almost the same value, preferable balance of the isolator 1 can beobtained. That is, the common mode rejection ratio of the isolator 1increases. When the common mode rejection ratio increases, the amount ofbalanced signals which have been input to the balanced output terminals16 and 17 in a common mode and which are transmitted to the balancedinput terminals 14 and 15 reduces. As a result, undesired waves otherthan necessary balanced signal waves are prevented from being passedthrough the isolator 1, and thus are not transmitted.

Likewise, by setting the capacitances of the two matching capacitors C1and C2 connected to the both ends of the central electrode 21 to almostthe same value, and by setting the capacitances of the two matchingcapacitors C3 and C4 connected to the both ends of the central electrode22 to almost the same value, a preferable balance of the isolator 1 canbe obtained, and the common mode rejection ratio increases.

The isolator 1 can be connected to a balanced circuit without via abalun. With this configuration, the circuit can be miniaturized and thecost can be reduced. Also, since a balun is not necessary insertion lossand undesired radiation can be reduced. Further, a usable frequency bandbecomes wider.

The operating center frequency and the operating frequency bandwidth ofthe isolator 1 depend on the shape and crossing angle of the centralelectrodes 21 and 22, the size, shape, and characteristics (saturationmagnetization 4π Ms, a magnetic loss coefficient ΔH, permittivity,dielectric loss, etc.) of the ferrite member 20, capacitances of thematching capacitors C1 to C4, and the DC biased magnetic field of thepermanent magnet 9. At this time, even if the size of the isolator 1 orthe shape and size of the ferrite member 20 are restricted, a desiredcenter frequency and input impedance can be obtained while realizingoptimal electrical characteristics including insertion loss and anoperating frequency bandwidth, by adjusting the capacitances of thematching capacitors C1 to C4.

Further, the cold-side capacitor electrodes of all the matchingcapacitors C1 to C4 are connected to the ground lead electrode portions18 a. Therefore, the matching capacitors C1 to C4 may have a stablehorizontal configuration and can be easily assembled. Further, straycapacitance generated between the matching capacitors C1 to C4 and theground can be minimized, and thus the isolator 1 having very littlevariation in the electrical characteristics can be obtained.

In addition, electrodes which are not at the ground potential, such asthe hot-side capacitor electrodes of the matching capacitors C1 to C4,the terminal electrodes of the resistors R1 and R2, and the input/outputlead electrode portions 14 a to 17 a, are almost covered by theconnecting portions 26 to 29 of the central electrodes 21 and 22. Withthis configuration, radiation of undesired electromagnetic waves can beminimized. A two-port isolator is often required to have isolation ofabout 20 dB to about 30 dB or more over a wide band. Therefore, theconfiguration of this preferred embodiment, in which undesired radiationcan be minimized, can be advantageously used.

Second Preferred Embodiment

A two-port isolator 41 of a second preferred embodiment preferablyincludes a central electrode assembly 43 shown in FIG. 5.

The central electrode assembly 43 preferably includes a microwaveferrite member 44, which is preferably substantiallyparallelogram-shaped in a plan view, and central electrodes 45 and 46,which are conductive wires covered with an insulating material. Theconductive wires are wound on the surface of the ferrite member 44 suchthat they cross each other at substantially right angles. Morepreferably, the shape of the ferrite member 44 is preferablysubstantially quadrangular (approximately square or approximatelyrectangle) or substantially rhombic. Alternatively, a substantiallycircular shape may be adopted.

As the conductive wires, copper wires or silver wires may be used.Alternatively, steel wires may be coated with gold, silver, or copper.The cross section of the conductive wire may be substantially circularor substantially rectangular or other suitable shape. The conductivewire is covered with an insulating material, such as polyester,polyimide, polyimide-amide, polyurethane, or enamel. The conductive wireneed not be necessarily covered with an insulating material. In thatcase, an insulating film is provided between the two central electrodes45 and 46. Preferably, a space or an insulating material is providedbetween adjacent portions of the central electrode 45 (or 46) so thatthe adjacent portions are not shorted out.

Since the central electrodes 45 and 46 are wound on the surface of theferrite member 44, a space of, for example, about 0.1 mm or more ispreferably provided between the central electrode assembly 43 and themetallic case or the like. Alternatively, a dielectric member, a ferritemember, or a ferrite magnet having a thickness of, for example, about0.1 mm or more may be provided between the central electrode assembly 43and the metallic case.

An insulating cover is removed at both ends 47, 48, 49, and 50 of thefirst and second central electrodes 45 and 46. The ends 47 to 50 aresoldered to the hot-side capacitor electrodes of the matching capacitorsC1 to C4, respectively. One of terminal electrodes of the resistor R1 issoldered to the end 47, and the other terminal electrode thereof issoldered to the end 49. Also, one of terminal electrodes of the resistorR2 is soldered to the end 50, and the other terminal electrode thereofis soldered to the end 48.

The two-port isolator 41 having the above-described configuration hasthe same operation and advantages as those of the two-port isolator 1 ofthe first preferred embodiment. Further, in the two-port isolator 41 ofthe second preferred embodiment, since the central electrodes 45 and 46are wound on the ferrite member 44, the necessary inductance can beobtained even if the ferrite member 44 is small. As a result, theisolator 41, which has a wide operating frequency band, can beminiaturized while preventing deterioration in the electriccharacteristics.

Also, when an isolator for the same operating frequency band is designedby using the ferrite member 44 having equal saturation magnetization andequal thickness, the area of the principal surface of the ferrite member44 can be reduced in the isolator 41 of the second preferred embodiment,compared to the isolator 1 of the first preferred embodiment. Therefore,the demagnetizing factor N of the ferrite member 44 is reduced, so thata necessary DC magnetic field applied by the permanent magnet can bereduced. As a result, the thickness of the permanent magnet can bereduced, and thus the thickness of the isolator 41 can be reduced.

By using the ferrite member 44 preferably having a substantiallyparallelogram-shaped principal surface and by setting an angle definedby adjacent side surfaces of the ferrite member 44 to a desired angle,the crossing angle of the central electrodes 45 and 46 can be easilystabilized. As a result, insertion loss and isolation of the isolator 41can be improved. Further, by setting the distance between side surfacesfacing each other of the ferrite member 44 to a predetermined value, thelength, that is, the inductance, of the central electrodes 45 and 46 canbe easily set without variation.

Third and Fourth Preferred Embodiments

FIG. 6 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of an isolator 51 of athird preferred embodiment. Both ends of a first central electrode 21are electrically connected to balanced input terminals 14 and 15,respectively. Also, both ends of a second central electrode 22 areconnected to balanced output terminals 16 and 17, respectively.Resistors R1 and R2 are electrically connected between the balancedinput terminal 14 and the balanced output terminal 16 and between thebalanced input terminal 15 and the balanced output terminal 17,respectively. A matching capacitor C9 is electrically connected betweenboth ends of the first central electrode 21 and a matching capacitor C10is electrically connected between both ends of the second centralelectrode 22. With this configuration, the number of matching capacitorsand connecting portions can be reduced, and thus the inexpensive,compact, and highly reliable isolator 51 can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is an electric equivalent circuit diagram of an isolator 61 of afourth preferred embodiment. The isolator 61 is preferably the same asthe isolator 1 of the first preferred embodiment except that thebalanced input terminals 14 and 15 and the balanced output terminals 16and 17 are electrically connected to the central electrodes 21 and 22through matching capacitors C5, C6, C7, and C8, respectively. Thematching capacitors C5 to C8 also function as DC voltage blockingcapacitors. Therefore, this configuration is effective when afirst-stage circuit is electrically connected to a subsequent-stagecircuit by a signal line with the isolator 61 therebetween, and when aDC voltage is superimposed on the first-stage circuit and the DC voltageshould not be transmitted to the subsequent-stage circuit.

Fifth Preferred Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 8, a two-port isolator 71 preferably includes ametallic case having a metallic lower case 74 and a metallic upper case78, a permanent magnet 79, a central electrode assembly 90 and asubstantially rectangular laminated substrate 100 having terminatorresistors R1 and R2 and matching capacitors C1 to C4.

In the central electrode assembly 90, two pairs of central electrodes 91and 92 are arranged on the upper surface of a microwave ferrite member93, which is preferably substantially rectangular-shaped when viewed ina plan view, such that the central electrodes 91 and 92 cross each otherat substantially right angles and an insulating layer (not shown) isprovided therebetween. In the fifth preferred embodiment, each of thecentral electrodes 91 and 92 includes two lines.

The central electrodes 91 and 92 may be bonded to the ferrite member 93by using a copper foil, or may be provided by printing a conductivepaste including Ag, Au, Ag—Pd, or Cu on the ferrite member 93. Theconductive paste preferably includes a photosensitive resin. After theconductive paste is printed on the entire surface of the ferrite member93, exposure and development are performed so as to remove anunnecessary portion, and then the conductive paste is fired.Accordingly, the central electrodes 91 and 92 formed of a thick film canbe obtained with highly-accurate positioning, and thus a stableelectrical characteristic can be obtained.

The laminated substrate 100 includes a dielectric sheet provided withconnecting electrodes 81 to 84 for the central electrodes, a dielectricsheet whose surface is provided with capacitor electrodes and resistorsR1 and R2, balanced input terminals 114 and 115, balanced outputterminals 116 and 117, and ground terminals 118.

The laminated substrate 100 is preferably fabricated in the followingway. The dielectric sheet is fabricated by using alow-temperature-sintered dielectric material whose main ingredient ispreferably Al₂O₃ and whose sub-ingredient is preferably one or more ofSiO₂, SrO, CaO, PbO, Na₂O, K₂O, MgO, BaO, CeO₂, and B₂O₃.

Further, a shrinkage-suppressing sheet which is not fired under thefiring condition (in particular, firing temperature of about 1000° C. orless) of the laminated substrate 100 and which suppresses shrinkage byfiring of the laminated substrate 100 in the plane direction (X-Ydirection) is fabricated. The shrinkage suppressing sheet preferablyincludes a mixture of alumina powder and stabilized zirconia powder.

The connecting electrodes 81 to 84 for the central electrodes and thecapacitor electrodes are formed in the dielectric sheet preferably byusing screen printing or photolithography. As a material for theelectrodes 81 to 84, Ag, Cu, or Ag—Pd, which has a low resistivity andwhich can be fired with the dielectric sheet, can preferably be used.

The resistors R1 and R2 are formed on the surface of the dielectricsheet by screen printing or other suitable process. The resistors R1 andR2 preferably are made of cermet, carbon, or ruthenium, or othersuitable material.

Also, via-holes for signals are preferably formed in the following way.First, holes for via-holes are formed in advance in the dielectric sheetby laser process or punching process, and then a conductive paste isfilled in the holes. Generally, the same material (Ag, Cu, or Ag—Pd) asthat for the electrodes 81 to 84 is preferably used for the conductivepaste.

The capacitor electrodes face each other with the dielectric sheettherebetween so as to constitute the matching capacitors C1 to C4. Thematching capacitors C1 to C4, the resistors R1 and R2, the electrodes 81to 84, and the via-holes constitute an electric circuit similar to thatshown in FIG. 4 in the laminated substrate 100.

The dielectric sheets are laminated and are sandwiched by theshrinkage-suppressing sheets, and are then fired. Accordingly, asintered member is obtained. Then, unsintered shrinkage-suppressingmaterial is removed by ultrasonic cleaning or wet honing, so as toobtain the laminated substrate 100.

The balanced input terminals 114 and 115, the balanced output terminals116 and 117, and the ground terminals 118 protrude from the bottomsurface of the laminated substrate 100. The surface of the thick-filmterminals 114 to 118 is preferably plated with Ni having a thickness ofabout 1 μm to about 10 μm, and furthermore, the surface thereof ispreferably plated with gold having a thickness of about 0.5 μm or less.This method is adopted for improving solderability (wettability) of theterminals 114 to 118 and for preventing melting into solder (erosion bysolder) and migration of the terminals 114 to 118.

The above-described components are preferably assembled in the followingway. The permanent magnet 79 is fixed to the ceiling of the metallicupper case 78 by using an adhesive. The central electrode assembly 90 ismounted on the laminated substrate 100 by soldering the ends of thecentral electrodes 91 and 92 to the connecting electrodes 81 to 84,which are provided on the upper surface of the laminated substrate 100.

The laminated substrate 100 is provided on a bottom portion 74 b of themetallic lower case 74. Further, the ground electrodes provided on theback surface of the laminated substrate 100 are fixed to the bottomportion 74 b by soldering, and are electrically connected thereto.

In the isolator 71, screen printing and photolithography are preferablyused for forming the central electrodes 91 and 92 and the laminatedsubstrate 100, and thus the complicated circuit and wiring can be formedwith very high precision. Accordingly, a band-pass filter (BPF), alow-pass filter (LPF), a band-elimination filter (BEF or notch filter),a directional coupler, and a coupler by capacitance can be easilyprovided in the isolator 71.

Sixth to Eighth Preferred Embodiments

FIG. 9 is an electric circuit diagram of a composite electroniccomponent 120, in which the isolator 1 of the first preferred embodimentis connected to balanced amplifiers 121 and 122. In FIG. 9, thecomposite electronic component 120 includes resistors R 11 to R14,inductors SL1 to SL12, first-stage field-effect transistors Tr1 and Tr2,last-stage field-effect transistors Tr3 and Tr4, and capacitors C11 toC21.

In the composite electronic component 120, a load impedance from theside of the output terminal of the balanced amplifier 122 is constantregardless of the operating state of the latter-stage circuit (forexample, whether power is supplied to the latter-stage circuit or not,or the state of power supply voltage) or the operation environment (forexample, ambient temperature or operating state of a load device, suchas an antenna device). As a result, the power load efficiency and theoutput distortion characteristic of the balanced amplifiers 121 and 122can be constantly kept at an optimal state.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an electric circuit in which the isolator1 of the first preferred embodiment is provided between a balancedoscillator 132 and a balanced frequency mixer 134. In FIG. 10, thecircuit includes a variable-capacitance diode 131, balanced amplifiers133, 135, and 137, and a balanced filter (for example, surface acousticwave filter) 136.

In this circuit, a load impedance from the side of the output terminalof the balanced amplifier 133 is constant regardless of the operatingstate of the balanced frequency mixer 134 and the balanced filter 136 orthe operation environment of this circuit. As a result, the oscillationfrequency and output power of the balanced oscillator 132 do not vary,and thus the optimal operating state can be constantly maintained. Inparticular, even when the power of the balanced frequency mixer 134 issupplied intermittently, the oscillation frequency of the balancedoscillator 132 does not vary instantaneously.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an electric circuit in which the isolator1 of the first preferred embodiment is incorporated into an RF portionof a mobile phone 150, which is a communication apparatus. In FIG. 11,the circuit preferably includes a balanced modulator/demodulator 138,balanced filters 139 and 142, a balanced frequency mixer 140, andbalanced amplifiers 141 and 143. One of the balanced output terminals ofthe isolator 1 is connected to the frequency mixer 134 in a receiverportion, and the other balanced output terminal is connected to thefrequency mixer 140 in a transmitter portion.

In this circuit, the oscillation frequency and the output power of thebalanced oscillator 132 does not vary, and the optimal operating statecan be constantly maintained. In particular, even when the power of thefrequency mixer 140 in the transmitter portion is suppliedintermittently, the output of the oscillator 132, which is supplied tothe receiver portion, does not vary instantaneously. Further, theisolator 1 has a function of distributing the output of the oscillator132.

Other Preferred Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferredembodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scopeof the present invention. For example, the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device according to the present invention may be anon-reciprocal circuit device including a coupler, other than theisolator.

As described above, according to various preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device includesbalanced input/output terminals, and thus the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device can be connected to a balanced circuit without via abalun. Also, the resistance of the first resistor, which is electricallyconnected between one end of the first central electrode and one end ofthe second central electrode, is almost equal to the resistance of thesecond resistor, which is electrically connected between the other endof the first central electrode and the other end of the second centralelectrode. Accordingly, the common mode rejection ratio of the two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device is increased. As a result, undesired wavesother than necessary balanced signal waves are prevented from passingthrough the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device, and are nottransmitted.

Also, by setting the capacitances of the two matching capacitors whichare electrically connected between both ends of at least one of thefirst and second central electrodes and ground to almost the samevalues, the common mode rejection ratio of the two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above-describedpreferred embodiments, and various modifications are possible within therange described in the claims. An embodiment obtained by appropriatelycombining technical features disclosed in each of the differentpreferred embodiments is included in the technical scope of the presentinvention.

1. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device comprising: a permanentmagnet; a ferrite member to which a DC magnetic field is applied by thepermanent magnet; a first central electrode provided on the ferritemember; a second central electrode provided on the ferrite member, thefirst and second central electrodes crossing each other and beingelectrically insulated from each other; a first resistor which iselectrically connected between a first end of the first centralelectrode and a first end of the second central electrode; a secondresistor which is electrically connected between a second end of thefirst central electrode and a second end of the second centralelectrode; a first terminal which is electrically connected to the firstend of the first central electrode and a second terminal which iselectrically connected to the second end of the first central electrode;and a third terminal which is electrically connected to the first end ofthe second central electrode and a fourth terminal which is electricallyconnected to the second end of the second central electrode; wherein thefirst and second terminals are balanced input terminals and the thirdand fourth terminals are balanced output terminals.
 2. A two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein a matchingcapacitor is electrically connected between the first and second ends ofthe first central electrode and a matching capacitor is electricallyconnected between both ends of the second central electrode.
 3. Atwo-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, whereinmatching capacitors are electrically connected between at least one ofthe first and second ends of each of the first and second centralelectrodes and ground.
 4. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein two matching capacitors are electricallyconnected between the first and second ends of at least one of the firstand second central electrodes and ground, and capacitances of the twomatching capacitors, which are electrically connected to the first andsecond ends of one of the central electrodes, are almost equal to eachother.
 5. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1,wherein at least one of the first to fourth terminals is electricallyconnected to the first or second central electrode via a matchingcapacitor.
 6. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according toclaim 1, wherein resistances of the first and second resistors arealmost equal to each other.
 7. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the ferrite member is substantiallyparallelogram-shaped when viewed in a plan view.
 8. A compositeelectronic component comprising: the two-port non-reciprocal circuitdevice according to claim 1; and a power amplifier which is electricallyconnected to the two-port non-reciprocal circuit device; wherein abalanced output terminal of the power amplifier is electricallyconnected to one of the balanced input terminals of the two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device.
 9. A communication apparatus comprisingthe two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim
 1. 10. Acommunication apparatus comprising the composite electronic componentaccording to claim
 8. 11. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a case including a metalliclower case and a metallic upper case, an outer surface of the case beingplated with one of Ag and Cu, and the case being arranged to contain thepermanent magnet, the ferrite member, the first and second centralelectrodes, the first and second resistors, and the first to fourthterminals.
 12. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according toclaim 1, wherein a width of each of the first and second centralelectrodes is preferably about 20% to about 45% of a diameter of theferrite member.
 13. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device accordingto claim 1, wherein each of the first and second central electrodesincludes a copper plate having a thickness of about 0.01 mm to about 0.1mm.
 14. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1,wherein the first and second resistors are electrically connectedbetween at least one of the balanced input terminals and at least one ofthe balanced output terminals.
 15. A two-port non-reciprocal circuitdevice according to claim 1, wherein the first and second resistors areelectrically connected between each of the balanced input terminals andeach of the balanced output terminals.
 16. A two-port non-reciprocalcircuit device according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the first andsecond resistors are at the same potential.
 17. A two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein the two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device is a two-port isolator.
 18. A two-portnon-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein the firstand second central electrodes are wound on the ferrite member.
 19. Atwo-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim 1, wherein theferrite member has a substantially parallelogram-shaped principalsurface.
 20. A two-port non-reciprocal circuit device according to claim1, wherein at least two pairs of the first and second central electrodesare provided on a surface of the ferrite member.